Gene Stratton-Porter

Author, photographer, naturalist and entrepreneur - Gene Stratton-Porter was a woman ahead of her time. Her Cabin at Wildflower Woods is nestled on the shores of Sylvan Lake amongst 148 acres of fields, woods and beautiful formal gardens.

The gravesites of Gene Stratton-Porter and her daughter Jeannette are located on the site.

Visitors may park in the free Visitor Parking Lot on Pleasant Point. ADA compliant parking is available in the lot nearest the Carriage House Visitor Center or call 260.854.3790 for a free ride in the Limberlost Trolley.

Group Discount
Receive $1 off of regular admission with a group of 15 or more.

School Groups

Interested in scheduling a group/school tour? Special rates are available for groups of 10 or more and for school groups. Call 260.854.3790 to schedule your visit.

School Group Tours

A Tour of Gene’s Cabin - Learn how this author and naturalist infused her personality into her home during its construction. Grades K-12.

Grounds and Garden Tour - See many of the region's beautiful wildflowers that Stratton-Porter transplanted to her garden. Grades K-12.

Guided Hike Through Sower's Woods - Explore Indiana's natural heritage and see what plans and flowers are currently in bloom. Grades K-12.

Special Art, Nature and Literature Program - Gene Stratton-Porter wrote, drew and photographed her natural surroundings. Create a similar experience for your students. Grades K-12.

Educators may request a specialty program for an additional fee; program topics include natural history and environmentalism.

Events

Please view our calendar for upcoming events.

Facility Rentals

Consider hosting your special event at Gene Stratton-Porter State Historic Site. Please fill out our inquiry form to receive information.

About Gene Stratton-Porter

Gene Stratton-Porter is Indiana’s most widely-read female author, as well as a gifted nature photographer and entrepreneur. She began her career writing about nature for magazines, but soon decided to reach larger audiences by sweetening her nature studies with a veneer of fiction. Porter’s first novel was 1903’s The Song of the Cardinal, although Michael O’Halloran, 1915, was the first book she wrote in Rome City.

In her lifetime (1863 to 1924), Porter authored 12 novels, seven nature studies, three poetry books, children’s books and numerous magazine articles. With an estimated 50 million readers, her works have been translated into several foreign languages as well as Braille. Eight of her novels were produced as motion pictures.

Nature Studies:What I Have Done with Birds, 1907Birds of the Bible, 1909Music of the Wild, 1910After the Flood, 1911Moths of the Limberlost, 1912Birds of the Limberlost, 1914Homing with the Birds, 1919Wings, 1923Tales You Won’t Believe, 1925

THE CABIN AT WILDFLOWER WOODSDesigned by Gene Stratton-Porter and completed in 1914, the cabin is nestled on the shores of Sylvan Lake. The exterior walls are of Wisconsin cedar logs, and local wild cherry panels the entrance hall and dining room. There are three extraordinary fireplaces: one of polished English brick, one constructed of Native American artifacts and stones collected from other states and one of puddingstone. The vast, undeveloped forest provided a rich source of material for her nature studies, writings and photography.

Furnishings in the home are arranged and maintained to reflect Porter’s lifestyle. Much of the furniture and personal collections, including Porter’s library, are preserved at the home.

GROUNDSAs you visit the site, be sure to enjoy the loving touches Gene added. Masterfully-sculpted from Bedford limestone, great horned owls perch atop puddingstone pillars, a 35-bed formal garden accented with a 120-foot-long wisteria-covered arbor, Sower’s Woods’ beautifully-maintained trail benches provide a quiet place to relax, and an artesian well and puddingstone walkway grace the shoreline of Sylvan Lake.